Chapter 25

---

As usual, I completed my sword practice and washed my face at the well. The cold water washed away the sweat that clung to my face, making me feel good. However, in winter, the water becomes so cold that it feels like hell, and I hesitate to touch it. It's a terrifying change.

After washing my face, I realized I had forgotten the towel to dry my face. I turned my head, but it was nowhere to be found.

"Here, your towel."

The one who smoothly handed me the towel was the maid, Sara. She has been taking care of me since I was a baby. She was sixteen when I was a baby, and now, six years later, she is twenty-two. The innocence has left her face, and she has a refined and beautiful presence. Her long, lustrous black hair would surely make passersby turn their heads.

For me, a Japanese person with black hair, it feels nostalgic, and I can't help but stare at times. It seems that others have noticed this, and my mother Elna even accused me of liking Sara. Well, it's common for young children to be attracted to beautiful older women.

Indeed, Sara is a beautiful woman. But from my perspective, with a mental age of thirty-three, I feel that it will be at least ten years before I even consider romance. I'm not sure if it's my thirty-three-year-old mind or my six-year-old body that's making the rational decision.

I answered my mother Elna like this:

"I just like black hair."

Perhaps it seemed strange for a six-year-old to suddenly say they like black hair, but I didn't care. I also didn't care about Elna's wide-eyed reaction or Elinora's sister playing with her bangs behind her.

Yeah, black hair is the best. Mm-hmm.

Many men prefer a clean and tidy image in women. Maybe it's because black hair has a natural beauty that Japanese people are instinctively drawn to?

Among them, I especially like long, straight hair because the shine is easy to see. I've heard that men like point reflection (like straight hair or the shine on a car). On the other hand, women seem to prefer diffuse reflection, like glitter or perm hair.

However, brown hair isn't bad either. It gives a bright impression and goes well with clothes. Even my female friends have said that black hair is difficult to match with clothes.

But, it's a bit sad that Japan has become full of brown hair. It's not that brown hair is bad or makes people look like they're playing around. It's probably just that the image of delinquents and yankis hasn't completely disappeared.

The strict hair rules in middle and high schools might be to identify those who are strongly rebellious against the school or organization by breaking the rules to dye their hair.

"Thank you, Sara."

"You're welcome."

Today, Sara's black hair is beautiful.

---

× × ×

I told Baltro that I didn't need lunch and transferred from my room to my home. The weather is nice today, so I plan to go on a picnic. I'm making a bento for that purpose.

Recently, thanks to the pot Logan made for me, I can cook rice.

As a result, one of the kitchens has become like an old earthen floor. This has a Japanese feel to it, and I adjusted the details with earth magic.

It's quite a bit more complicated than just pressing a switch to cook the rice.

Putting firewood into the stove and cooking with fire is quite difficult. The hardest part is controlling the heat. I practiced controlling the heat for days with Baltro's guidance, burning firewood. This made me realize how great gas stoves are.

I managed to control the heat, but I struggled with the heat control for cooking rice. After much trial and error, I finally found the right heat control.

Start with a low heat, then increase to high heat, slightly reduce the heat, return to high heat, and finally turn off the heat and let it sit with the lid on.

This way, the rice cooks well. It took many attempts before I got it right, with many batches of rice becoming mushy or burnt.

I cooked the rice, enduring my hunger, as I have become accustomed to this task.

"Yeah, the rice is standing up."

I nodded as the steam from the cooked rice hit my face.

I made several salted rice balls, wrapped them in leaves, and stored them with spatial magic.

This way, they will always be warm.

"I'm one step closer to my goal of a rich life."

Today, I plan to take the rice balls to Logan's house and go on a picnic. I want to show Logan the goodness of rice, as he immediately liked tamagoyaki. I'm sure he will understand the compatibility of rice. I regret not having miso soup. Should I look for it or make it...

While thinking about my plans, I headed for Logan's house.

Outside the village, at the training ground used by the vigilante group, Elinora was energetically sparring with the captain using a wooden sword.

The cheers for the captain and the high-pitched cheers for Elinora echoed even from a distance. I passed by, glancing at them.

"Logan! I brought lunch!"

I pounded on Logan's hut. Since no one lives around here, I can be as loud as I want without bothering the neighbors. I can't hear any work sounds, so it should be fine.

"Stop it! What if someone hears?"

"Huh? No one is around."

"This village is small. Anyone could hear and misunderstand."

"Are you a self-conscious high school girl or something?"

"What? Self-conscious, high school girl?"

Hearing a word he didn't know, Baltro cut it off in a strange place. His pronunciation was a bit funny.

"Ah, look, I brought rice."

"Yeah, that. Did you come just for this?"

"No, I'm going on a picnic."

"Got it. I'll eat it later."

No way! Not eating a warm rice ball! It's impossible to eat it later. That's a foolish act. Logan is actually a big eater, so he can't not eat. That means...

"That means, Logan, you're coming with me on the picnic!?"

"No way, how did you get that idea? I just have work to do."

"Aww, that's no fun."

"Alright, thanks. I'll give you my thoughts later..."

Logan closed the door with a bang.

I immediately pressed my ear to the door. It's impossible for him not to eat a warm rice ball. Logan is a tsundere, so he'll probably say, "Hmph, I'll eat one or two," and eat them.

"...I'm hungry, so I'll eat one or two."

He really said something similar.

I smiled wryly at Logan's predictable actions and moved away from the door.

"Wait a minute."

I didn't notice when Logan came out from behind and stopped me.

"Huh? What?"

"Is this available at Celia's restaurant?"

"Huh? What? You already ate the rice balls?"

Logan averted his gaze and spoke in a low voice.

"Is it available?"

Come on, just say, "It was delicious. Is it available at Celia's restaurant?"

I imagined Logan politely asking, and I felt a sour taste rise in my stomach.

"There's still only a little at the mansion, so it's not widely available yet."

"Got it... It should go well with tamagoyaki... Try to make it available soon."

Logan really understands.

I left a comment, "It was delicious," and returned to his hut.

...Is there a demand for male tsunderes?

To be continued.